The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News

The White House has expressed “deep concern” following a report from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon that Israeli forces fired on locations where peacekeepers were stationed, injuring two of them. In a statement on Thursday, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said, “We are deeply concerned about reports that Israeli forces fired on two …

Lebanese Christian Joseph Jarjour had hoped for a peaceful retirement in his hometown of Rmeish in southern Lebanon, but instead, he now finds himself in the middle of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. “We’re trapped,” said the 68-year-old retired teacher from Rmeish, a village located just two kilometers from the Israeli border. Following nearly a year of cross-border …

Hezbollah senior leader Wafiq Safa has been critically injured and is in serious condition following Israeli airstrikes that hit two buildings in Beirut’s Noueiri and Bourj Abi Haidar areas, sources told Sky News Arabia on Friday. According to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television and Israeli media, the airstrikes were intended to target Safa, a high-ranking security and political official within the group. …

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism on Friday for a diplomatic solution in Lebanon while emphasizing the importance of preventing a wider conflict in the region. He voiced support for Lebanon’s fragile government to strengthen its authority against Hezbollah. Blinken reiterated that Israel, which has been conducting deadly airstrikes on Lebanon, has “a right to defend itself” against …

When asked about the recent airstrikes in Lebanon, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters in Las Vegas, “We must reach a cease-fire, both concerning the situation in Lebanon and, of course, in Gaza.” She added, “We are working tirelessly to achieve this, but it’s crucial that these conflicts come to an end. We need to de-escalate the situation in …

Lebanon’s U.N. Ambassador, Hadi Hashem, has called for an immediate ceasefire, while Israel’s envoy stated that military operations would continue until Hezbollah’s influence in southern Lebanon is dismantled, preventing further attacks on Israel. During an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting convened by France, Hashem argued that Israel’s bombings and ground invasion would not bring security or stability for its people. …

Hezbollah announced on Friday that it had carried out a drone attack targeting a military base in Haifa, located in northern Israel. This action followed deadly airstrikes in central Beirut the previous day, as the group continues its clashes with Israeli forces along the border. In a statement, Hezbollah confirmed that it had launched “an air attack using explosive-laden drones” …

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday called on the United Nations to pass a resolution demanding an “immediate” ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Mikati informed reporters that the Lebanese foreign ministry would request the U.N. Security Council to issue a resolution calling for a “full and immediate ceasefire.” He also emphasized that his government remains committed to Resolution 1701, …